PLANS for the former site of a car dealership which moved out of Maldon after nearly 100 years have been given the go-ahead.
The proposals for the empty Quest Motors site were unveiled this summer and due to be voted on in July but were postponed due to concerns raised over parking.
This project has since been changed and was debated by Maldon District Council in a central planning committee meeting last night.
Planning officers recommended approval.
Quest Motor Group was established in 1924 and founded in Maldon by Jim Gozzett.
The family business, now run by Jim's grandsons Robin and Martin, announced in April it would be moving out of its home on Wycke Hill Business Park.
It moved at the end of May and customers continue to be taken care of at its Braintree branch in Rayne Road.
Read more:
- What's planned for the Quest Motors site (set to be voted on next week)
- Car dealership which has been in town since the 1920s to move out this year
Developers' new plans for the site include a "mixed-use development" made up of an autocentre with vehicle repair, MOT testing, showroom, car parking, and a drive-though Costa Coffee shop.
For flexibility, planning permission for specified Sui Generis uses is also sought.
The applicant's agent spoke in the meeting last night on behalf of developer Barkby Real Estate Development Limited.
She said: "The proposals present an opportunity to secure a high quality redevelopment at this vacant site.
"We've worked carefully with the authority [since July] to develop a satisfactory solution to meet the authority's concerns, reducing the amount of floor space and reconfiguring the parking provision to ensure the majority spaces meet the council's preference for wider bays which are larger than the national standards."
She added the proposals would deliver up to 45 jobs and further jobs would be created during the construction phase.
After a debate, councillor Mark Heard proposed approval subject to a revised parking layout with all the spaces the right size, and at least one electric charging point to be at the coffee shop area.
Members voted to approve the application.
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